Wednesday, September 16, 2009
♥ Revelations and むし
It's really funny how you realize things when you come to another country that you shouldn't really realize in that specific country. Allow me to explain. Since coming to Japan I've realized I want to actually learn more French and German, but also that I want to learn Hungarian. French and German will at least benefit me in grad school and so on, but Hungarian? No, not really... but its a cool language and I want to learn it. So there. I should really be all gung-ho about Japanese and all, since I'm sorta here, but I'm just not. It's a cool language and all, and I'm picking things up, and when CLAIR sends out our language course I will do it... it's just sorts like, meh. Europe is my home and I definitely know that now. I like Japan, don't get me wrong, at times I love it, but nothing can really make me lost for breath like Europe and England can.
And now on a totally unrelated note...
I stayed home yesterday because I had accumulated 13... 13!!! bug bites, including a spider bite. Something in the venom or the bites (or the fact there were so many at once!) conflicted with my body and I was just miserable. So I called in (all in Japanese, whut whuuuut) and took nenkyuu and spent the day in front of the computer listening to music, reading, and relaxing... and drinking a lot of tea. I got some steroid cream for them and on my third day using it the bites are starting to go down. Hastened by my mother I relocated upstairs to my actual bedroom and got off the floor, this way its harder for bugs to get at me. It seemed to work. I have no new bites and I feel better today, though probably dehydrated. I reorganized a bit and now I want to redecorate some, or at least give the apartment a cohesive feel. I need to do laundry too. Provided I'm up to it, I'm SO biking down to the new found JUSCO (Wal-mart?) in Yaizu and seeing if I can pick some things out. I need to be careful though, Kyoto is coming up and if I want to stay in budget I must be conscientious of my money. I may be living off rice in October. That's cool. I can live off rice if my house is pretty :)!
But yes, today has be odd. A person from Kencho (BOE) came down and observed my supervisor's class. he invited me to watch and I sat in the back. It was funny, because as I was approaching the kids started to get excited, surprise lesson from Kristina whuuuut... no... I disappointed them, but a few smiled and a boy from another class said hello to me "Kris! Hello!" So cute. Why are they so cute? I feel like a perv. But yeah, I watched his lesson and now I've been invited to the English teacher's meeting and been asked to give comments... and then I can leave, since it'll all be in Japanese haha. Smiley-sensei said it was okay if I left, or I could stay, but he was worried I'd be tired afterwards because I'd be trying to understand the Japanese. Wish I could bring my iPod. I probably will stay for the whole thing, if only to prove I'm willing to sit there and not understand, being invited was pretty sweet in the first place.
As I was heading back another student said hello to me and then all the sudden a lot more were. So cool. Some random 3rd year boy did too. Yayz. I'm becoming more of a regular face, so that's awesome. I'm ahead on my lesson planning and want to start planning for Halloween lessons, though I need to figure out a way to get a fuckton of American candy here without it costing me my life. Hmmm ebay?
Oh yeah, I turned on my air conditioner briefly this morning and a giant spider fell out. I think I know how they're getting inside.
Time to go Rambo on the air conditioner eh?
And now on a totally unrelated note...
I stayed home yesterday because I had accumulated 13... 13!!! bug bites, including a spider bite. Something in the venom or the bites (or the fact there were so many at once!) conflicted with my body and I was just miserable. So I called in (all in Japanese, whut whuuuut) and took nenkyuu and spent the day in front of the computer listening to music, reading, and relaxing... and drinking a lot of tea. I got some steroid cream for them and on my third day using it the bites are starting to go down. Hastened by my mother I relocated upstairs to my actual bedroom and got off the floor, this way its harder for bugs to get at me. It seemed to work. I have no new bites and I feel better today, though probably dehydrated. I reorganized a bit and now I want to redecorate some, or at least give the apartment a cohesive feel. I need to do laundry too. Provided I'm up to it, I'm SO biking down to the new found JUSCO (Wal-mart?) in Yaizu and seeing if I can pick some things out. I need to be careful though, Kyoto is coming up and if I want to stay in budget I must be conscientious of my money. I may be living off rice in October. That's cool. I can live off rice if my house is pretty :)!
But yes, today has be odd. A person from Kencho (BOE) came down and observed my supervisor's class. he invited me to watch and I sat in the back. It was funny, because as I was approaching the kids started to get excited, surprise lesson from Kristina whuuuut... no... I disappointed them, but a few smiled and a boy from another class said hello to me "Kris! Hello!" So cute. Why are they so cute? I feel like a perv. But yeah, I watched his lesson and now I've been invited to the English teacher's meeting and been asked to give comments... and then I can leave, since it'll all be in Japanese haha. Smiley-sensei said it was okay if I left, or I could stay, but he was worried I'd be tired afterwards because I'd be trying to understand the Japanese. Wish I could bring my iPod. I probably will stay for the whole thing, if only to prove I'm willing to sit there and not understand, being invited was pretty sweet in the first place.
As I was heading back another student said hello to me and then all the sudden a lot more were. So cool. Some random 3rd year boy did too. Yayz. I'm becoming more of a regular face, so that's awesome. I'm ahead on my lesson planning and want to start planning for Halloween lessons, though I need to figure out a way to get a fuckton of American candy here without it costing me my life. Hmmm ebay?
Oh yeah, I turned on my air conditioner briefly this morning and a giant spider fell out. I think I know how they're getting inside.
Time to go Rambo on the air conditioner eh?
Labels: musings, yaizu chuo
12:56 PM
Monday, September 14, 2009
♥ The Great Flying Gaijin
This weekend I went to Lagunasia in Gamagori, Aichi-ken... the neighboring prefecture to Shizuoka. Granted it wasn't the warmest day, but it was a lot of ridiculous fun. Sally, Sarah, and I tore that place up... especially the wave pool and crazy ass slide of death. This slide, dear jesus, every time I went down it I thought I was going to die, no lie. It was one of those "this is frekaing awesome" and "holy shit I'm doomed" sort of rides. What's most important though is the very end, there's s turn and you're already being flung up the side when you're tossed out into the pool. However, I am Kristina and I can't just come out of this slide like a normal person, oh no... I have to do a full 360 degree corkscrew mid-air 2 feet above the water before smacking into the pool backwards. Yeah, I am THAT hardcore. I think the best was the expression of this little girl and her father with their jaws dropped in shock.
Every single time I went down that slide I did some crazy flip off of it. It was fun, terrifying, and a rush, but I haven't relaly been able to move my neck since Saturday, haha. Ah well, that's what I get for being a flying specacle eh?
Also at Langunasia I got my feet eaten by fish. Yes, you read that right. The famous Dr. Fish (http://www.dr-fish.jp/). It's the little fish that eat all the dead skin cells off your feet. It was freaking bizarre man. At first it tickled a bit, but then it was just like vibrations. It definintely prooved i need to get a pumice stone, because I clearly don't exfoliate enough as I was being attacked. All the fish swarmed my feet. While it was truly bizarre, my feet are still really smooth and it was only 700 yen for a good while. I'll put up a video and pictures later, but yeah, try it if you have the guts to do it. Nice smooth feet. It's very odd to see youself being nibbled at though, I must admit.
But yeah, I was exhaustified, so I decided not ot go to costume karaoke in Kakegawa and isntead grabbed dinner in Hamamatsu and came home and promptly collapsed. Woke up yesterday morning feeling horrible and sporting an impressive set of over a dozen bug bites. Since then they've only gotten redder and bigger and now i hve a horrible headache that four aspirin has yet to take care of. Turns out the teacher who sits next to me has the flu too so I suppose i'm just waiting for that to hit. I just hope it hits now as come saturday I'm in Kyoto and Shikoku for like 10 days, haha. If I'm sick I will seriously kill someone.
Naoki, don't you dare.
I think homesickness is starting to hit me a bit. While it's nice ot have my own place, being alone all the time really sucks. I think I'm going to start demanding skype dates, even if I have to stay up late to get them. I'm just hoping Stage 2 holds off for awhile longer, I would like to enjoy Kyoto. I'm sure I will, I mean... it's Kyoto, but yeah.
I have the week off, no classes, so I'm just woring ahead on lesson plans and trying to figure out some travel plans. I need to get my Shinkansen tickets for Kyoto to Imabari when I go to visit Chen. I'm sure i can do it at Kyoto station, but I'm not so sure i want to deal with Kyoto station on my own, so I'm going to do it in Shiz. Sometime... yeah. I guess that's it... maybe? Who knows, its a mystery.
P.S. Matcha is delicious.
Every single time I went down that slide I did some crazy flip off of it. It was fun, terrifying, and a rush, but I haven't relaly been able to move my neck since Saturday, haha. Ah well, that's what I get for being a flying specacle eh?
Also at Langunasia I got my feet eaten by fish. Yes, you read that right. The famous Dr. Fish (http://www.dr-fish.jp/). It's the little fish that eat all the dead skin cells off your feet. It was freaking bizarre man. At first it tickled a bit, but then it was just like vibrations. It definintely prooved i need to get a pumice stone, because I clearly don't exfoliate enough as I was being attacked. All the fish swarmed my feet. While it was truly bizarre, my feet are still really smooth and it was only 700 yen for a good while. I'll put up a video and pictures later, but yeah, try it if you have the guts to do it. Nice smooth feet. It's very odd to see youself being nibbled at though, I must admit.
But yeah, I was exhaustified, so I decided not ot go to costume karaoke in Kakegawa and isntead grabbed dinner in Hamamatsu and came home and promptly collapsed. Woke up yesterday morning feeling horrible and sporting an impressive set of over a dozen bug bites. Since then they've only gotten redder and bigger and now i hve a horrible headache that four aspirin has yet to take care of. Turns out the teacher who sits next to me has the flu too so I suppose i'm just waiting for that to hit. I just hope it hits now as come saturday I'm in Kyoto and Shikoku for like 10 days, haha. If I'm sick I will seriously kill someone.
Naoki, don't you dare.
I think homesickness is starting to hit me a bit. While it's nice ot have my own place, being alone all the time really sucks. I think I'm going to start demanding skype dates, even if I have to stay up late to get them. I'm just hoping Stage 2 holds off for awhile longer, I would like to enjoy Kyoto. I'm sure I will, I mean... it's Kyoto, but yeah.
I have the week off, no classes, so I'm just woring ahead on lesson plans and trying to figure out some travel plans. I need to get my Shinkansen tickets for Kyoto to Imabari when I go to visit Chen. I'm sure i can do it at Kyoto station, but I'm not so sure i want to deal with Kyoto station on my own, so I'm going to do it in Shiz. Sometime... yeah. I guess that's it... maybe? Who knows, its a mystery.
P.S. Matcha is delicious.
11:13 AM
Thursday, September 10, 2009
♥ Enkai
enkai = welcome/leaving/celebratory party usually involving namihode (all you can drink) and some sort of amusing event.
And the above definition is true, never mind that I wrote that definition. Suck it.
Forgive me, I am writing this after drinking 7 drinks... not entirely sure what... I like 4 ume-shous, 1 lime... thing... 2 apricot liquer things... I don't know. But I have warned you and thus I may continue.
So I had my welcome enkai with the English teachers (well 7 of the 9 of them anyways, the other 2 were busy with something), and what at first started as incredibly awkward ended with me laughing my ass off and everyone clapping and having a good time. I'm genuinely surprised, but in a good way. Turns out it was one of the second-year teachers who planned this whole thing to me, and we hadn't talked that much... though she did help me find the 100 Yen store and I gave her omiyage for it... maybe that had something to do with it. Anywho. So I got to the restaurant (Bali Hai... which was SO good and the atmosphere was amazing and omg it was so freaking awesome) early, because I'm like that, and after awhile one of the second-year teachers walks up... she is now known as Savvy-sensei for reasons I just explained. She's the one who organized it, and she looks savvy. She's friend with Stilleto-sensei... was that her nick-name? The thoroughly modern lady who is just so damn cool. She has the British accent? (omg side story: she brought an article to me the other day about Japanese "herbivores" and i proceeded to read it after inquiring if it meant vegetarians and she freaked out and was like NOOO! NO no no no no no... apparently it was about metrosexuals... which are called herbivores in Japan. I don't understand this connection. I'm sure many metrosexuals enjoy a nice filet mignon...)
... errrrr where was I? Anywho, so she shows up and we go instead and after like 5 minutes of awkwardly talking and me looking around the restaurant she leaves and then returns with Smiley-sensei, Coldplay-sensei, and another teacher, a third-year teacher whom is dubbed Car-sensei... since he gave me an impromptu ride home my first day. Candy-sensei, Blueberry-sensei, and another first year teacher who is now dubbed Bakery-sensei (since she brought me to a delicious bakery!) will be late because they aren't done lesson planning or helping students. That's cool I guess, I was a little worried, but then I was being hounded about what drink I wanted so that occupied my mind. Damn I need to learn katakana. I pointed to something and wah lah.
I've come to the conclusion that the Japanese have horrid alcohol tolerance. As a precursor.
Food started to arrive and I WOWed and AMAZEDed the teachers by flipping my chopsticks around and using the OPPOSITE END to grab food with as not to contaminate it. Immediately Coldplay-sensei was like "EEEEEEHHH?!?! SUUUUGOOOOI! You can use chopsticks that way?!" And then we had a 10-minute discussion about how beginners hold their chopsticks near the bottom and pros at the top. I was in the middle near the top, but they were so impressed, and when the other teachers showed up (and apologized profusely for being late... no big really to me but yeah, they're Japanese) I was commended on knowing Japanese etiquette that a lot of young Japanese don't even follow. Major brownie points to the gaijin, allll riiiight. So the drinks and food keep coming, we're chatting about all sorts of things (and apparently Silver Week is a gaijin invention, most likely an ALT invention as known of them have ever heard of it, haha) ... fuck, I lost my train of though. Sorry, I was thinking about gum.
Anyways.
I now seem to be connected to the home economics, tea ceremony, and ikebana clubs on campus, as well as some sort of Japanese craft festival/place that Bakery-sensei is going to be taking me to. I mean this is all very exciting, but dear lord that is a lot... not to mention earlier today I expressed an interest in Japanese archery (kyudo?) to the Deputy Principle, which he'll probably mention to our star player.
haha. Oy. I think my life is about to get very busy. Though at least Bakery-sensei said for tea ceremony and ikebana I could "watch" or "try it" not "join" like I wanted to with the home economics club. She was going to look up cooking lessons for me in Yaizu, but this is more convenient, and it's free! We both agreed it was a better arrangement. This all came about because I said I loved Japanese tradition (since America doesn't really have that deeply entrenched of one) and we just all got to talking and they were impressed about how much I knew (which isn't a lot, but a little goes a LONG way here).
At one point we were talking about my trip to Kyoto and they were saying I needed to go to Nara and there was a temple/place/thing there I needed to go to... but it was pronounced nearly identical to a place in Kyoto and like 15 minutes was spent on them all trying to decide which was which. My face must have been priceless because they just kept laughing at how lost I was. I taught them the difference in pronouncing desert and dessert... and I told them all what a sake bomb was. We talked a lot about sake actually. I had the same convo like three times. lol.
Savvy-sensei... oh man she was red. Haha, she kept being like "KRIS! Your next drink?!" And I would pick one and so would she. We were the champions. Everyone else had to drive so they had very little or not alcohol. The men were very interested in Shirley Temples, which I thought was freaking adorable, but I couldn't really explain why it was called one. "It's er... well the syrup is sweet and Shirley Temple was cute... uhm... no, I have no idea."
On a totally unrelated note, I confessed that I didn't like Old Bay, which Bakery-sensei thought was very amusing. lol. Her and Candy-sensei said that their students said today that they really liked me and can't wait for the next team-teaching classes. Candy-sensei also divulged that the students, especially the boys, think I am very cute. And the girls think my eyes are beautiful. I get the eye comment a lot (I like my eyes!) so that was adorable. D'aw widdle high schoolers. Dey sho cute. But they like me! And even some of the older teachers said they've heard I was very good. Yaaaay!
Okay, back on track.
I think the most amusing part was when Smiley-sensei asked Candy-sensei (the youngest teacher) and I a.. question? I don't know, it made no sense and I still don't understand what happened.
"Kris-san and Candy-sensei.. please tell us about human relations..."
Wait whut?
"... making human relations..."
And this is the point that my blank stare turns to hysterical laughter and suddenly everyone understands why I'm confused (someone shouted "About teaching of course!) and/or embarrassed. Smiley-sensei just starts clapping and laughing, saying "Happy! Happy! Happy!" and then we're all clapping and suddenly everyone is thanking ME for the enkai when it was really Savvy-sensei's doing. So I thank her and she's all pleased and then we're getting up and leaving and Smiley-sensei is pointing out all the staues to me and making very traditionally cryptic jokes and I'm like.. hmm I like stairs. So we start to go our separate ways when a teacher makes sure I can get home (I live behind the place practically) and after assuring her I was fine I ended up back here really needing to pee... and still trying to figure out what Simley-sensei meant about Candy-sensi and I telling them about human relations...
And the above definition is true, never mind that I wrote that definition. Suck it.
Forgive me, I am writing this after drinking 7 drinks... not entirely sure what... I like 4 ume-shous, 1 lime... thing... 2 apricot liquer things... I don't know. But I have warned you and thus I may continue.
So I had my welcome enkai with the English teachers (well 7 of the 9 of them anyways, the other 2 were busy with something), and what at first started as incredibly awkward ended with me laughing my ass off and everyone clapping and having a good time. I'm genuinely surprised, but in a good way. Turns out it was one of the second-year teachers who planned this whole thing to me, and we hadn't talked that much... though she did help me find the 100 Yen store and I gave her omiyage for it... maybe that had something to do with it. Anywho. So I got to the restaurant (Bali Hai... which was SO good and the atmosphere was amazing and omg it was so freaking awesome) early, because I'm like that, and after awhile one of the second-year teachers walks up... she is now known as Savvy-sensei for reasons I just explained. She's the one who organized it, and she looks savvy. She's friend with Stilleto-sensei... was that her nick-name? The thoroughly modern lady who is just so damn cool. She has the British accent? (omg side story: she brought an article to me the other day about Japanese "herbivores" and i proceeded to read it after inquiring if it meant vegetarians and she freaked out and was like NOOO! NO no no no no no... apparently it was about metrosexuals... which are called herbivores in Japan. I don't understand this connection. I'm sure many metrosexuals enjoy a nice filet mignon...)
... errrrr where was I? Anywho, so she shows up and we go instead and after like 5 minutes of awkwardly talking and me looking around the restaurant she leaves and then returns with Smiley-sensei, Coldplay-sensei, and another teacher, a third-year teacher whom is dubbed Car-sensei... since he gave me an impromptu ride home my first day. Candy-sensei, Blueberry-sensei, and another first year teacher who is now dubbed Bakery-sensei (since she brought me to a delicious bakery!) will be late because they aren't done lesson planning or helping students. That's cool I guess, I was a little worried, but then I was being hounded about what drink I wanted so that occupied my mind. Damn I need to learn katakana. I pointed to something and wah lah.
I've come to the conclusion that the Japanese have horrid alcohol tolerance. As a precursor.
Food started to arrive and I WOWed and AMAZEDed the teachers by flipping my chopsticks around and using the OPPOSITE END to grab food with as not to contaminate it. Immediately Coldplay-sensei was like "EEEEEEHHH?!?! SUUUUGOOOOI! You can use chopsticks that way?!" And then we had a 10-minute discussion about how beginners hold their chopsticks near the bottom and pros at the top. I was in the middle near the top, but they were so impressed, and when the other teachers showed up (and apologized profusely for being late... no big really to me but yeah, they're Japanese) I was commended on knowing Japanese etiquette that a lot of young Japanese don't even follow. Major brownie points to the gaijin, allll riiiight. So the drinks and food keep coming, we're chatting about all sorts of things (and apparently Silver Week is a gaijin invention, most likely an ALT invention as known of them have ever heard of it, haha) ... fuck, I lost my train of though. Sorry, I was thinking about gum.
Anyways.
I now seem to be connected to the home economics, tea ceremony, and ikebana clubs on campus, as well as some sort of Japanese craft festival/place that Bakery-sensei is going to be taking me to. I mean this is all very exciting, but dear lord that is a lot... not to mention earlier today I expressed an interest in Japanese archery (kyudo?) to the Deputy Principle, which he'll probably mention to our star player.
haha. Oy. I think my life is about to get very busy. Though at least Bakery-sensei said for tea ceremony and ikebana I could "watch" or "try it" not "join" like I wanted to with the home economics club. She was going to look up cooking lessons for me in Yaizu, but this is more convenient, and it's free! We both agreed it was a better arrangement. This all came about because I said I loved Japanese tradition (since America doesn't really have that deeply entrenched of one) and we just all got to talking and they were impressed about how much I knew (which isn't a lot, but a little goes a LONG way here).
At one point we were talking about my trip to Kyoto and they were saying I needed to go to Nara and there was a temple/place/thing there I needed to go to... but it was pronounced nearly identical to a place in Kyoto and like 15 minutes was spent on them all trying to decide which was which. My face must have been priceless because they just kept laughing at how lost I was. I taught them the difference in pronouncing desert and dessert... and I told them all what a sake bomb was. We talked a lot about sake actually. I had the same convo like three times. lol.
Savvy-sensei... oh man she was red. Haha, she kept being like "KRIS! Your next drink?!" And I would pick one and so would she. We were the champions. Everyone else had to drive so they had very little or not alcohol. The men were very interested in Shirley Temples, which I thought was freaking adorable, but I couldn't really explain why it was called one. "It's er... well the syrup is sweet and Shirley Temple was cute... uhm... no, I have no idea."
On a totally unrelated note, I confessed that I didn't like Old Bay, which Bakery-sensei thought was very amusing. lol. Her and Candy-sensei said that their students said today that they really liked me and can't wait for the next team-teaching classes. Candy-sensei also divulged that the students, especially the boys, think I am very cute. And the girls think my eyes are beautiful. I get the eye comment a lot (I like my eyes!) so that was adorable. D'aw widdle high schoolers. Dey sho cute. But they like me! And even some of the older teachers said they've heard I was very good. Yaaaay!
Okay, back on track.
I think the most amusing part was when Smiley-sensei asked Candy-sensei (the youngest teacher) and I a.. question? I don't know, it made no sense and I still don't understand what happened.
"Kris-san and Candy-sensei.. please tell us about human relations..."
Wait whut?
"... making human relations..."
And this is the point that my blank stare turns to hysterical laughter and suddenly everyone understands why I'm confused (someone shouted "About teaching of course!) and/or embarrassed. Smiley-sensei just starts clapping and laughing, saying "Happy! Happy! Happy!" and then we're all clapping and suddenly everyone is thanking ME for the enkai when it was really Savvy-sensei's doing. So I thank her and she's all pleased and then we're getting up and leaving and Smiley-sensei is pointing out all the staues to me and making very traditionally cryptic jokes and I'm like.. hmm I like stairs. So we start to go our separate ways when a teacher makes sure I can get home (I live behind the place practically) and after assuring her I was fine I ended up back here really needing to pee... and still trying to figure out what Simley-sensei meant about Candy-sensi and I telling them about human relations...
Labels: beginning, enkai, musings, yaizu, yaizu chuo
9:41 PM
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
♥ First Classes
Overall they went very well. I technically still have two left to do, but the grand majority are over. I can already tell the level differences between the classes, but that's okay... at least i know how to adapt lessons now and when I can speak faster and when I really need to slow down. Overall the kids seemed really interested in my presentation and what I had to say. I got over any stage fright rather quickly as soon as I realized that I had no real reason to be terrified of them. The teachers said the kids really enjoyed my lessons, so that's good, haha. It is very true that bribing Japanese students is the way to go, man... as soon as those twizzlers cam eout they were volunteering questions like CRAZY. It was hysterical actually, especially when I gave one to a teacher because she knew who Edgar Allen Poe was. I thought there was going to be a riot.
I made them try Old Bay, which was very amusing. Some really liked it and attacked it like a free-for-all hyena massacre... others screamed, covered their mouths and ran away... I dare not tell them I hate it, I have a feeling the'd pour it down my throat. But yeah, its only the intros, but I feel i'm sort of getting a hang of things? Who knows. Tomorrow is the welcome party for me thrown by the English teachers (aaaagh nervous) and then I have two classes on Friday and then LAGUNASIA... but yeah. Enkai. I'm sure it'll be fine, I just always get nervous about these things. I have no classes for two weeks though... one of them is SIlver Week granted, but still. Then I have my Shopping lessons... then maybe another? Then no classes because it is mid-terms... and then HALLOWEEN WEEK! Fuck yes. I told them I'm dressing up, it's going to be freaking awesome. I need to get mum to send me my Captain Hook outfit hardcore.
But yeah, I made a "Getting To Know You" sheet for the kids to fill out telling me about them. Here are some amusing responses I got back...
Some kid drew Doraemon's head and wrote "I am a doreaemon I came to future" ... kid didn't write his real name down, lol...
"My favorite food is nothing." This poor child!
"My favorite band is nothing." Why do they like nothing?
What is your favorite movie? "No." I ASKED YOU A QUESTION! YOU DO NOT DENY ME!
Do you enjoy English?: "No. Because I am Japanese." ... racist.
What do you want to do when you graduate high school?
"I want to enjoy talking." Oh dear me... this does not bode well.
"I buy a computer." ... and WoW claims another soul.
"Enjoy." ... er... good?
"I don't want movie... I don't know band." I worry about 13HR...
And my favorite... "do you have smoke cheese?"
I made them try Old Bay, which was very amusing. Some really liked it and attacked it like a free-for-all hyena massacre... others screamed, covered their mouths and ran away... I dare not tell them I hate it, I have a feeling the'd pour it down my throat. But yeah, its only the intros, but I feel i'm sort of getting a hang of things? Who knows. Tomorrow is the welcome party for me thrown by the English teachers (aaaagh nervous) and then I have two classes on Friday and then LAGUNASIA... but yeah. Enkai. I'm sure it'll be fine, I just always get nervous about these things. I have no classes for two weeks though... one of them is SIlver Week granted, but still. Then I have my Shopping lessons... then maybe another? Then no classes because it is mid-terms... and then HALLOWEEN WEEK! Fuck yes. I told them I'm dressing up, it's going to be freaking awesome. I need to get mum to send me my Captain Hook outfit hardcore.
But yeah, I made a "Getting To Know You" sheet for the kids to fill out telling me about them. Here are some amusing responses I got back...
Some kid drew Doraemon's head and wrote "I am a doreaemon I came to future" ... kid didn't write his real name down, lol...
"My favorite food is nothing." This poor child!
"My favorite band is nothing." Why do they like nothing?
What is your favorite movie? "No." I ASKED YOU A QUESTION! YOU DO NOT DENY ME!
Do you enjoy English?: "No. Because I am Japanese." ... racist.
What do you want to do when you graduate high school?
"I want to enjoy talking." Oh dear me... this does not bode well.
"I buy a computer." ... and WoW claims another soul.
"Enjoy." ... er... good?
"I don't want movie... I don't know band." I worry about 13HR...
And my favorite... "do you have smoke cheese?"
2:46 PM
Thursday, September 3, 2009
♥ The Kokeshi Chronicles
After Mt. Fuji I bought a "creative" kokeshi doll (description). I liked it because it was both cute and creepy, and I wanted to get myself a nice souvenir. I always get myself something at important or major places I've been. I find nothing wrong in treating myself a little bit, and it was only like $15. However I may now be regretting this decision... you see... I think my kokeshi is evil.
Yes. I believe my kokeshi doll is possessed.
Mostly jokingly, but weird things have been happening, and while this can be attributed to my own stupidity and general spacey-ness, I am more inclined to blame the kokeshi.
For instance. I come home from school on Monday and find my door (while not unlocked) turned as if someone was trying to get in. I walk in, no issue, whatev. I go to my living room and find my kokeshi doll is not where I left it but rather around a foot to the right. I literally stared at it for a minute and tried to remember if i moved it. After no recollection I came to the conclusion that the doll was alive and I really needed to not piss it off. So I moved it back adn carefully stepped away.
Since then I have blamed many things on the kokeshi.
My scissors went missing. Kokeshi.
I couldn't find my mascara this morning, so I went out to the doll, glared at it, and went back int he bathroom to find it in plain site. Clearly it was the kokeshi.
Weird noise in the night. Kokeshi.
Weird dreams. Kokeshi.
This morning the kokeshi was on its side. I think its getting ready to attack. I'm onto you kokeshi doll... I'm thinking if I name it, it may be placated. So I have named it Naoki (直樹) which means docile tree... it is made of wood and I hope it to be docile. Therefore... Naoki.
I shall keep you all updated on the kokeshi chronicles...
Yes. I believe my kokeshi doll is possessed.
Mostly jokingly, but weird things have been happening, and while this can be attributed to my own stupidity and general spacey-ness, I am more inclined to blame the kokeshi.
For instance. I come home from school on Monday and find my door (while not unlocked) turned as if someone was trying to get in. I walk in, no issue, whatev. I go to my living room and find my kokeshi doll is not where I left it but rather around a foot to the right. I literally stared at it for a minute and tried to remember if i moved it. After no recollection I came to the conclusion that the doll was alive and I really needed to not piss it off. So I moved it back adn carefully stepped away.
Since then I have blamed many things on the kokeshi.
My scissors went missing. Kokeshi.
I couldn't find my mascara this morning, so I went out to the doll, glared at it, and went back int he bathroom to find it in plain site. Clearly it was the kokeshi.
Weird noise in the night. Kokeshi.
Weird dreams. Kokeshi.
This morning the kokeshi was on its side. I think its getting ready to attack. I'm onto you kokeshi doll... I'm thinking if I name it, it may be placated. So I have named it Naoki (直樹) which means docile tree... it is made of wood and I hope it to be docile. Therefore... Naoki.
I shall keep you all updated on the kokeshi chronicles...
Labels: kokeshi chronicles, musings
10:34 AM
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
♥ Introduction Speech
I felt the need to update this real quick with the results of my intro speech. See, I had to give a little speech in front of 900+ students and teachers. If that wasn't terrifying enough I was initially told it had to be in Japanese... though then a few days ago I was told it could be in English. So what did I do? I split it. Japanese, English, Japanese, English, Japanese, English, Japanese... Whoot. Basically I went through a phrase book and adapted some words and wrote it all out in romanji. But yeah so I walk into the gym and there's hundreds of kids and immediatly they start turning and staring and talking to their friends, whispering, etc etc. Most of them (the grand majority anyways) have never seen me before so I'm sure they were all like ZOMGWHUTGAIJINWITHTHEBIGHAIR?!?! I give this sort of timid smile and keep shuffling after my supervisor as we try to figure out the order in which this is proceeding. My intro was first and it turns out the head of students wrote a welcome speech for me (D'aaaawwwww). So it was to be Kocho-sensei's intro, my speech, and then my welcome speech.
It was so funny as soon as I got on stage, thw whsipers just grew and as I looked over the crowd of little black heads and white shirts I realized just how foreign I was. Anywho, he rambles a bit and I unerstand like every 15th word or so and finally its my tur. The mic is too low but I just bend over a bit and immediatly apologize for my horrible Japanese... and then proceed to read etc etc. Some random phrases and a "Yes we can!" later I bow to the sound of applause and Kocho-sensei smiles and shows me where to stand. Only then I have to move as I have to meet the student leader and some awkward scrambling later she rads off a rather adorable little thing about how excited they are, etc etc, they want to learn about America (the ALTs for the past 5 years have been Aussies), etc etc. It was adorable and it was a surprise so I was rather pleased (and more pleased my part was over). So finally I wander back down and after a moment of standing by my supervisor I see out of the corner of my eye himw riting something and he sort of nudges it my way and I read;
<i>You did a very good job!!!</i>
It was the little boost I needed. My pronunciation was horrid, but the good thing about Japanese is that there are no inflextions like Chinese... therefore the word, no matter how it is sad (usually) is still the word. WHOOT! So the rest of the ceremony preceeds and a teacher I've never talked to comes up to me as we're leaving and says "Thank you for the wonderful speech! It was very good... I enjoyed listening to it." It was so sweet! And then I get back to the staff rom and everyone is smiling and stuff and Blueberry-sensei comes up and says how excited the kids are and that they thought I was very sincere. Apparently they could understand me, and he thanked me multiple times. Then Candy-sensei said the fucking funniest thing ever. "I really liked your speech. I could hear it very well... your pronunciation was.... weird... I could understand it though."
lol.
I'm pleased. I didn't think I did that well, but I think everyone was just really impressed I tried speaking Japanese. The students were apparently very surprised and impressed. Yay. I just want them to like me.
So yeah, first meeting with my JTEs on Thursday for the intro lesson. I have it all done, so I just need to print off copies for them all. Whoot. Now how to work the printer...
It was so funny as soon as I got on stage, thw whsipers just grew and as I looked over the crowd of little black heads and white shirts I realized just how foreign I was. Anywho, he rambles a bit and I unerstand like every 15th word or so and finally its my tur. The mic is too low but I just bend over a bit and immediatly apologize for my horrible Japanese... and then proceed to read etc etc. Some random phrases and a "Yes we can!" later I bow to the sound of applause and Kocho-sensei smiles and shows me where to stand. Only then I have to move as I have to meet the student leader and some awkward scrambling later she rads off a rather adorable little thing about how excited they are, etc etc, they want to learn about America (the ALTs for the past 5 years have been Aussies), etc etc. It was adorable and it was a surprise so I was rather pleased (and more pleased my part was over). So finally I wander back down and after a moment of standing by my supervisor I see out of the corner of my eye himw riting something and he sort of nudges it my way and I read;
<i>You did a very good job!!!</i>
It was the little boost I needed. My pronunciation was horrid, but the good thing about Japanese is that there are no inflextions like Chinese... therefore the word, no matter how it is sad (usually) is still the word. WHOOT! So the rest of the ceremony preceeds and a teacher I've never talked to comes up to me as we're leaving and says "Thank you for the wonderful speech! It was very good... I enjoyed listening to it." It was so sweet! And then I get back to the staff rom and everyone is smiling and stuff and Blueberry-sensei comes up and says how excited the kids are and that they thought I was very sincere. Apparently they could understand me, and he thanked me multiple times. Then Candy-sensei said the fucking funniest thing ever. "I really liked your speech. I could hear it very well... your pronunciation was.... weird... I could understand it though."
lol.
I'm pleased. I didn't think I did that well, but I think everyone was just really impressed I tried speaking Japanese. The students were apparently very surprised and impressed. Yay. I just want them to like me.
So yeah, first meeting with my JTEs on Thursday for the intro lesson. I have it all done, so I just need to print off copies for them all. Whoot. Now how to work the printer...
3:43 PM
♥ Mt. Fuji
I have since calmed down a bit since the initial excursion, so I'm not quite as vehemently angry at that sadistic bastard of a mountain, though I am not going to forgive it any time soon for what it did to my body. Haha. Like, I'm not a nature person; anyone who knows me knows this. I like looking at nature, I do not particularly enjoy being in it. However, once I learned I was going to Shizuoka I told myself that I needed to climb Mt. Fuji. I don’t think what that meant really dawned on me until I actually started climbing it this past Saturday. Yeah sure, it was a mountain, but I figured the hike would be like a normal hike, there’d be a train and trees and it’d be all nice and calming.
Alas.
Mt. Fuji is a volcano, and with that comes rocks, boulders, shale, dust, and no real conceivable path. We started out around 10PM on the Fujinomiya Trail... the shortest, but the steepest trail for Mt. Fuji, in hopes to reach the summit by 4:30AM to see the sunrise. I started out really strong actually, poor Sally had to
tell me to slow down, but I was so eager to get going that I was just heading up too fast. I believe it particularly cruel that the 6th Station is so near the 5th, as it suggested the time between stations would be as short and easy as that was. Post 6th Station was quite different. The trail dissolved into rocks, ledges, boulders, and no hand-ropes as you climbed, crawled, and generally flopped about. I suppose I just don’t understand how it could be so damn dangerous. Like really, people were stumbling and falling all over place, and I know the night climb (or any climb on Fuji) is at your own risk, but dear jesus! There are points you literally have to pull yourself up using the ropes and everyone is grunting or helping push the person in front of you. I think it’s safer when you’re alone perhaps, as when there is a line going ahead, if one person falls dude… that is a nasty domino effect there. It was hard, it was. I know for some people they thought it was easier than expected, but for me, a very inexperienced hiker who prefers the comfort of tea, movies, and her computer, it was not an easy task. Especially in the dark. A lot of it was pushing my stick forward to make sure I was on steady ground and then to move. I climbed the majority of it by myself. I was with Sally at the beginning, but then we got separated, and I wasn’t able to keep up with the crazy awesome pace Jeff and Jessie had. I liked doing it by myself though. It was my own little journey, and I could complain all I wanted… though I still only bitched in my head, though a few “fucking Christ”, “fucking hell,” and “shit”s came out every once in awhile. (ow, I just burned my mouth with tea… uuuugh). How befitting. I just kept telling myself, you can do this, you really can do this.
I quickly learned not to break for too long, because your body temperature plummets. I would be warm and then all the sudden I would start shivering and I had to get up. I never got altitude sickness thankfully, but I did use my oxygen container when I was short on breath. There isn’t a lot of oxygen up there on Fuji. I also learned raisins are insanely delicious at 2AM above the clouds. Those were some damn tasty raisins man. I just kept trucking and station after station I told myself, one more, just one more.
I was shocked and amazed when I hit that 9th station. I just remember standing there (amid the HORRIFIC stench that was the bathrooms) and being like… dude… HOW did I get up this far? I wandered into the restaurant and saw the time was 3:30. I had done it in exactly 5.5hours, and that was with a lot of resting. I was damn well proud of myself. I even started up towards the summit… but after 20minutes and only moving a few feet, I decided I didn’t feel like waiting in line only to miss the sunrise, so I walked back down (and fell like twice) and waited for the sunrise at the 9th station. It was pretty for sure, and I don’t particularly think I missed anything by not going to the summit, other than freezing my ass off more than I already was. I took some pictures and finally headed back down before the massive herd would follow.
I don’t think going down was necessarily harder than going up, but it hurt a LOT more. Fuji is all loose shale and ash, so you slid, fell, and dug your toes so far into the front of your shoe you couldn’t remember the last time you had toes. I had to just collapse a few times because my knees started to shake and I was quickly approaching 24hours without sleep and was on my 7th hour of intense physical labor. 5 falls and no legs left, I finally found Sally at the 6th station and she lovingly gave me advil and a muscle relaxer and we proceeded down. It was very strange seeing Fuji in the sunlight; to actually be able to see the trail. It was weird and slightly terrifying to see what I had climbed up only a few hours before. We were the first group down however around 9AM (24hours awake by then!) and did a lot of sitting (after I wiped out on the stairs), some shopping, and eventually met up with others who had wandered down. The feeling was generally the same between us all... “OH GOD WHY!” Haha.
I am glad I did it; at least I’m pretty sure at this point. I set out to do it, and while I didn’t make it to the top, I made it so much more farther than I thought I was going to. I fought through so much damn pain and exhaustion and I really pushed myself far out of my comfort zone. I’m not afraid to say I’m proud of myself, I really am.
But there is no way in hell will I ever do it again.
Alas.
Mt. Fuji is a volcano, and with that comes rocks, boulders, shale, dust, and no real conceivable path. We started out around 10PM on the Fujinomiya Trail... the shortest, but the steepest trail for Mt. Fuji, in hopes to reach the summit by 4:30AM to see the sunrise. I started out really strong actually, poor Sally had to
tell me to slow down, but I was so eager to get going that I was just heading up too fast. I believe it particularly cruel that the 6th Station is so near the 5th, as it suggested the time between stations would be as short and easy as that was. Post 6th Station was quite different. The trail dissolved into rocks, ledges, boulders, and no hand-ropes as you climbed, crawled, and generally flopped about. I suppose I just don’t understand how it could be so damn dangerous. Like really, people were stumbling and falling all over place, and I know the night climb (or any climb on Fuji) is at your own risk, but dear jesus! There are points you literally have to pull yourself up using the ropes and everyone is grunting or helping push the person in front of you. I think it’s safer when you’re alone perhaps, as when there is a line going ahead, if one person falls dude… that is a nasty domino effect there. It was hard, it was. I know for some people they thought it was easier than expected, but for me, a very inexperienced hiker who prefers the comfort of tea, movies, and her computer, it was not an easy task. Especially in the dark. A lot of it was pushing my stick forward to make sure I was on steady ground and then to move. I climbed the majority of it by myself. I was with Sally at the beginning, but then we got separated, and I wasn’t able to keep up with the crazy awesome pace Jeff and Jessie had. I liked doing it by myself though. It was my own little journey, and I could complain all I wanted… though I still only bitched in my head, though a few “fucking Christ”, “fucking hell,” and “shit”s came out every once in awhile. (ow, I just burned my mouth with tea… uuuugh). How befitting. I just kept telling myself, you can do this, you really can do this.I quickly learned not to break for too long, because your body temperature plummets. I would be warm and then all the sudden I would start shivering and I had to get up. I never got altitude sickness thankfully, but I did use my oxygen container when I was short on breath. There isn’t a lot of oxygen up there on Fuji. I also learned raisins are insanely delicious at 2AM above the clouds. Those were some damn tasty raisins man. I just kept trucking and station after station I told myself, one more, just one more.
I was shocked and amazed when I hit that 9th station. I just remember standing there (amid the HORRIFIC stench that was the bathrooms) and being like… dude… HOW did I get up this far? I wandered into the restaurant and saw the time was 3:30. I had done it in exactly 5.5hours, and that was with a lot of resting. I was damn well proud of myself. I even started up towards the summit… but after 20minutes and only moving a few feet, I decided I didn’t feel like waiting in line only to miss the sunrise, so I walked back down (and fell like twice) and waited for the sunrise at the 9th station. It was pretty for sure, and I don’t particularly think I missed anything by not going to the summit, other than freezing my ass off more than I already was. I took some pictures and finally headed back down before the massive herd would follow.
I don’t think going down was necessarily harder than going up, but it hurt a LOT more. Fuji is all loose shale and ash, so you slid, fell, and dug your toes so far into the front of your shoe you couldn’t remember the last time you had toes. I had to just collapse a few times because my knees started to shake and I was quickly approaching 24hours without sleep and was on my 7th hour of intense physical labor. 5 falls and no legs left, I finally found Sally at the 6th station and she lovingly gave me advil and a muscle relaxer and we proceeded down. It was very strange seeing Fuji in the sunlight; to actually be able to see the trail. It was weird and slightly terrifying to see what I had climbed up only a few hours before. We were the first group down however around 9AM (24hours awake by then!) and did a lot of sitting (after I wiped out on the stairs), some shopping, and eventually met up with others who had wandered down. The feeling was generally the same between us all... “OH GOD WHY!” Haha.
I am glad I did it; at least I’m pretty sure at this point. I set out to do it, and while I didn’t make it to the top, I made it so much more farther than I thought I was going to. I fought through so much damn pain and exhaustion and I really pushed myself far out of my comfort zone. I’m not afraid to say I’m proud of myself, I really am.
But there is no way in hell will I ever do it again.
10:55 AM
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